Road traffic restricted on Mill Road in Norwood due to railroad track repair work

Thursday, July 31, 2014 - 11:38 am

NORFOLK -- Road traffic is being restricted at the railroad grade crossing on the Mill Road about three miles northeast of the hamlet of Norfolk as repair work proceeds, according to St. Lawrence County Legislator Jason A. Clark (D-Norfolk).

Through traffic on the Mill Road was restricted on Wednesday due to grade work. The repair is due to be finished by Tuesday, Aug. 5 “at the latest,” Clark said in a press release.

According to Clark, the Mill Road crossing is among the worst of the crossings that CSX Transportation agreed to repair last fall.

The St. Lawrence County Department of Emergency Services was notified of the closure mid-day on Wednesday.

Late last year, Legislator Clark, Norfolk Town Supervisor Charlie Pernice and Norfolk Highway Superintendent Larry Villnave met with representatives from CSX Transportation to talk about grade crossings. The officials agreed that all of the deficient grade crossings located along the CSX main line in Norwood and Norfolk would be replaced or repaired by the end of the summer of 2014 to a standard that was safe and easily passable.

Clark said he has negotiated with CSX officials for months to expedite grade work on the Mill Road in response to constituent complaints.

“The Murphy Road, Mill Road and Gladding Road crossing were among the worst in the state,” Clark said.

“We are working with CSX to repair the crossings that are the most in need. The Murphy Road crossing was completed last week. The Mill Road crossing has been moved up on the schedule and will be completed next. And we are discussing the Gladding Road crossing now.”

Clark said he hopes that the Gladding Road crossing will be addressed quickly.

“We are chipping away at the problem and, as promised, the track crossings throughout the Norwood and Norfolk communities that are in disrepair will, in fact, be repaired by the end of the summer. On behalf of our residents, I am grateful that CSX is owning their end of our agreement.”

Clark invites comments and questions at 617-312-8594.

Clark is running in November to keep his 12th District seat on the county Board of Legislators.

He is opposed by Republican John Burke of Lacomb Road, Norfolk, former administrator of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.